Jorge Jesus has been named Portugal’s new head coach, ending the Roberto Martínez era after the national team’s exit from the World Cup. The announcement came from the Portuguese side on Friday, with Jesus stepping into a role he has never held before.
The move puts one of Portugal’s best-known club coaches in charge of a team led by Cristiano Ronaldo, but Jesus made it clear that reputation alone will not decide anything. Speaking at his presentation, he pointed to his history with stars such as Neymar and Ronaldo to stress that performance matters more than name value.
A coach known for strong convictions
Jesus said, “The name doesn’t count,” and added that he has already coached two of the best players in the world, with Messi the only one he will not work with. He also recalled telling Neymar at one point, “you’re finished,” a remark that reflected his hard line on form and standards.
According to www1.folha.uol.com.br, Portugal chose not to renew Martínez’s contract after the team was eliminated by Spain 1-0 in the round of 16. Jesus then described taking the job as an honor and said he was proud to represent his country.
What changes for Portugal now
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| New head coach | Jorge Jesus |
| Previous coach | Roberto Martínez |
| Reason for change | Portugal did not renew Martínez’s contract after the World Cup exit |
| First-time role | This is Jesus’ first experience with a national team |
In his message, Jesus said Portugal should move forward with “one voice and one heart.” The contract length has not yet been disclosed, leaving one key detail still open as the federation begins a new cycle.
Jesus arrives after a successful spell at Al Nassr from July 2025 to May this year, when he won the Saudi Championship. Cristiano Ronaldo was one of the standouts in that squad, giving the new national coach another direct link to Portugal’s biggest star.
His coaching résumé also includes Braga, Benfica and Sporting in Portugal, as well as Fenerbahçe in Turkey and Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. In Brazil, he led Flamengo from June 2019 to July 2020 and won the Libertadores and the Brazilian league in his first year, followed by the Supercopa do Brasil, Recopa Sudamericana and the Rio state championship in the second.
